Basic service set color-based effective isotropic radiated power assignment for enterprise networks

ABSTRACT

Methods for assigning effective isotopic radiated power to an access point in a wireless network are provided. In one aspect, a method includes determining weights for neighboring access points in a wireless network based on channel frequency and basic service set color assignments. For a particular access point, a first path loss based on the determined weights and a second path loss based on the neighboring access points are calculated. First and second effective isotopic radiated power values are calculated based on the respective first and second path losses. The effective isotopic radiated power of the particular access point is adjusted based on the lower of the first and second calculated effective isotopic radiated power values. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

BACKGROUND

Basic service set (BSS) colors and channel assignments are provided asfields in wireless packets by IEEE 802.11. Multiple available values ofBSS colors may be assigned to a channel, where the BSS colors are usedto recognize and distinguish overlapping signals. Each access point in awireless network has associated color, channel and effective isotopicradiated power (EIRP) attributes. For any particular access point, if acolor and channel assignment is already given, assigning an EIRP to theparticular access point is commonly difficult.

The description provided in the background section should not be assumedto be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with thebackground section. The background section may include information thatdescribes one or more aspects of the subject technology.

SUMMARY

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a method isprovided. The disclosed method provides for using a network device todetermine a weight for each neighboring access point of a plurality ofneighboring access points in a radio frequency neighborhood of aparticular access point based on at least a channel frequency and abasic service set color of the plurality of neighboring access points inthe radio frequency neighborhood of the particular access point. Themethod also calculates a first path loss from the neighboring accesspoints based on the determined weights of each neighboring accesspoints, and also calculates a second path loss based on the neighboringaccess points. The method further calculates first and second effectiveisotopic radiated power values based on the calculated first and secondpath losses. The method also adjusts the effective isotopic radiatedpower associated with the particular access point based on a lower valuebetween the first effective isotopic radiated power and the secondeffective isotopic radiated power.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a system isprovided. The disclosed system provides for a memory and a processorconfigured to execute instructions to determine and adjust an effectiveisotopic radiated power associated with a particular access point in awireless network. The system determines one of a first weight, a secondweight, a third weight, a third priority weight, a fourth weight and afourth priority weight for each neighboring access point of a pluralityof neighboring access points in a radio frequency neighborhood of aparticular access point. The weight is based on at least a channelfrequency and a basic service set color of each neighboring accesspoint. The system further calculates a first path loss from theneighboring access points based on the determined weights of eachneighboring access point, and also calculates a second path loss basedon the neighboring access points. The system further calculates firstand second effective isotopic radiated power values based on thecalculated first and second path losses. The system then adjusts theeffective isotopic radiated power associated with the particular accesspoint based on the lesser of the first and second effective isotopicradiated power values.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, amachine-readable storage medium is provided. The disclosedmachine-readable storage medium has instructions that cause a processorto determine and adjust an effective isotopic radiated power associatedwith a particular access point in a wireless network. The processordetermines a weight for each neighboring access point in a radiofrequency neighborhood of a particular access point. The weight is basedon at least a channel frequency and a basic service set color of eachneighboring access point. The processor also calculates a first pathloss from the neighboring access points based on the determined weightsof each neighboring access point, and also calculates a second path lossbased on the neighboring access points. The processor further calculatesfirst and second effective isotopic radiated power values based on thecalculated first and second path losses. The processor also adjusts theeffective isotopic radiated power associated with the particular accesspoint based on the lesser of the first and second effective isotopicradiated power values.

It is understood that other configurations of the subject technologywill become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, wherein various configurations of thesubject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. Aswill be realized, the subject technology is capable of other anddifferent configurations and its several details are capable ofmodification in various other respects, all without departing from thescope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detaileddescription are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not asrestrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide furtherunderstanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with thedescription serve to explain the principles of the disclosedembodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example architecture providing a BSS color basedEIRP assignment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example client device, accesspoint and network device from the architecture of FIG. 1 according tocertain aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example process for providing a BSS color basedEIRP assignment using the example client/server of FIG. 2 .

FIGS. 4A-4C are example illustrations associated with the exampleprocess of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system withwhich the client device, access point and network device of FIG. 2 canbe implemented.

In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components ineach figure may be required, and one or more implementations may includeadditional components not shown in a figure. Variations in thearrangement and type of the components may be made without departingfrom the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components,different components, or fewer components may be utilized within thescope of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofvarious implementations and is not intended to represent the onlyimplementations in which the subject technology may be practiced. Asthose skilled in the art would realize, the described implementationsmay be modified in various different ways, all without departing fromthe scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings anddescription are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and notrestrictive.

General Overview

The disclosed system provides for assigning EIRP in a wireless network(e.g., IEEE 802.11ax) when BSS color and channel assignments are alreadygiven or known. A wireless network includes radio frequency (RF)neighborhoods, where an RF neighborhood is a group of access points thatcan physically hear one another's neighbor messages above a specifiednoise floor (e.g., −95 dBm). For any particular access point in awireless network, the neighboring access points may change channelsand/or colors. The system calculates an EIRP to assign to the particularaccess point based on the probabilities of the neighboring access pointshaving the same channel and color attributes as the particular accesspoint.

Accordingly, the system may assign an EIRP to every access point in thewireless network, or in a specified subset of the wireless network. Thesystem calculates and assigns the EIRPs to achieve several optimizationgoals. One optimization goal is to achieve good spatial reuse withexisting channel and color assignment to preserve network performance.Also, if any events such as radar and/or noise detection are triggeredat a particular access point, thus forcing the particular access pointto change the channel, another optimization goal is to ensure thatneighboring access points are not affected by the change. Further, asthere is a mechanism available in IEEE 802.11ax for an access point tochange color without changing the channel, an access point may changeits color based on certain implementation based events. Thus, anotheroptimization goal achieved by the system is to minimize the effect ofdisruptions in the network caused by a change of colors by an accesspoint. Yet another optimization goal of the system is to assign EIRPs tothe access points without affecting roaming procedures.

The disclosed system provides an improvement to computer networkfunctionality by providing a centralized way of assigning EIRP to aparticular access point in a wireless network based on BSS colorassignments. While rudimentary methods to approach different aspects ofassigning EIRP to access nodes exist, no centralized solution based onBSS color assignment is known. Thus, the disclosed system and methodimprove computer network functionality by each of preserving networkperformance using spatial reuse with existing channel and BSS colorassignment, providing that neighboring access points are not affected ifa particular access point is force to change its channel, minimizingeffects of disruptions from an access point changing its BSS color, andnot affecting roaming procedures.

For example, in a typical computer network having hundreds or thousandsof access points, it is readily apparent that monitoring and assigningan EIRP to each access point every time the network parameters change isfar beyond the capabilities of a person or team of people to handle.Thus, the disclosed system provides a heretofore unknown centralizedmethod of dynamically assigning EIRP to access points as networkparameters constantly change (e.g., access points added or removed,channels and/or BSS colors of any given access point change due tonetwork conditions), thereby immensely improving the computer networkfunctionality,

Example System Architecture

FIG. 1 illustrates an example architecture 100 for assigning EIRP in awireless network. The architecture 100 includes network devices 130,access points 120 and client devices 110 connected over a network 150.

At least one network device 130 is configured to host an EIRP assignmentapplication that calculates and adjusts the EIRP for a particular accesspoint 120 in a wireless network based on channel and color attributes ofneighboring access points 120. For purposes of load balancing, multiplenetwork devices 130 can host the EIRP assignment application. Thenetwork devices 130 can be any device having an appropriate processor,memory, and communications capability for hosting the EIRP Assignmentapplication. For example, the network device 130 may be any deviceincluding but not limited to an access point, a wireless controller, anetwork controller, a server, and any form of virtualized computingappliance.

The EIRP assignment application on a network device 130 determines for aparticular access point 120, a weight for each neighboring access point120 based on assigned channels and colors for the access points 120. TheEIRP assignment application on the network device 130 also calculatesmultiple effective EIRPs based on different path losses with theneighboring access points 120. As such, the disclosed system can, forexample, calculate an EIRP to assign to the particular access point 120.As a result, the EIRP of the particular access point 120 may be adjustedby the network device 130 in order to achieve one or more optimizationgoals.

The client devices 110 to which the network devices 130 and accesspoints 120 are connected over the network 150 can be, for example,desktop computers, mobile computers, tablet computers (e.g., includinge-book readers), mobile devices (e.g., a smartphone or PDA), set topboxes (e.g., for a television), video game consoles, or any otherdevices having appropriate processor, memory, and communicationscapabilities. In certain aspects, one or more of the network devices 130can be a cloud computing server of an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)and be able to support a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) andsoftware-as-a-service (SaaS) services.

The network 150 can include, for example, any one or more of a personalarea network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network(CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), abroadband network (BBN), the Internet, and the like. Further, thenetwork 150 can include, but is not limited to, any one or more of thefollowing network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, aring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchicalnetwork, and the like.

Example EIRP Assignment System

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example network device 130,access point 120 and client device 110 in the architecture 100 of FIG. 1according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The client device 110, access point 120 and the network device 130 areconnected over the network 150 via respective communications modules212, 214 and 216. The communications modules 212, 214 and 216 areconfigured to interface with the network 150 to send and receiveinformation, such as data, requests, responses, and commands to otherdevices on the network. The communications modules 212, 214 and 216 canbe, for example, modems or Ethernet cards.

The network device 130 includes a processor 226, a communications module216, and a memory 236 that includes an EIRP assignment application 246.As discussed above, the network devices 130 can be any of an accesspoint, a wireless controller, a network controller and a server. Theprocessor 226 of the network device 130 is configured to executeinstructions, such as instructions physically coded into the processor226, instructions received from software in memory 236, or a combinationof both. For example, the processor 226 of the network device 130executes instructions from the EIRP assignment application 246 todetermine, for a particular access point 120, a weight for each ofmultiple neighboring access points 120 in a radio frequency (RF)neighborhood based on BSS colors and channels assigned to each accesspoint 120, calculate a first path loss based on the weight of eachneighboring access point 120, calculate a second path loss from all ofthe neighboring access points 120, calculate a first EIRP based on thefirst path loss, calculate a second EIRP based on the second path loss,and adjust the EIRP associated with the particular access point 120based on one of the first and second EIRPs.

The memory 236 of the network device 130 may store network attributesBSS color, channel, EIRP) for access points 120 in an RF neighborhood,an RF group, or an entire wireless network. The memory 236 also storesinstructions for executing the process of determining and assigning anEIRP to access points 120 in a wireless network based on BSS colorassignments.

The memory 236 also stores weights associated with access points 120.For example, the memory 236 may store six weights based upon differentaccess point parameters. A first weight is based upon a neighboringaccess point 120 having the same assigned channel and same assignedbasic service set color as a particular access point 120. A secondweight is based upon a neighboring access point 120 having the sameassigned channel and a different assigned basic service set color as theparticular access point 120. The second weight is proportional to thesensitivity of the effective isotopic radiated power to basic serviceset color changes in relation to the number of basic service set colorsavailable to the neighboring access point 120.

A third weight is based upon a neighboring access point having adifferent assigned channel and the same assigned basic service set coloras the particular access point 120. The third weight is proportional tothe sensitivity of the effective isotopic radiated power to channelchanges in relation to the number of channels available to theneighboring access point 120. In the event the access point 120 includesDFS channels, a priority third weight is proportional to the sensitivityof the effective isotopic radiated power to DFS channel changes inrelation to the number of non-DFS channels available to the neighboringaccess point.

A fourth weight is based upon a neighboring access point 120 having adifferent assigned channel and a different assigned basic service setcolor as the particular access point 120. The fourth weight is equal tothe second weight times the third weight. In the event the access point120 includes DFS channels, a fourth priority weight is equal to thesecond weight times the third priority weight. Thus, the determinedweights (e.g., first weight, second weight, third weight, third priorityweight, fourth weight, fourth priority weight) are mapped to each of theneighboring access points 120 and the weight map is stored in memory236. The stored weights are used by the processor 226 to calculate pathlosses and EIRP values.

The memory 236 stores the path losses and EIRP values calculated by theprocessor 226. A first path loss is based on a number of first neighboraccess points 120, the first path loss being equal to a sum of theweight assigned to each of the first neighbor access points 120 timesthe path loss from the corresponding first neighbor access point 120 tothe particular access point 120 and divided by the sum of the weightassigned to each of the first neighbor access points 120. For example, afirst neighbor access point 120 may be an access point 120 thatinfluences the particular access point 120 the most or is influenced bythe particular access point 120 the most based on the weights. However,determination of a set of first access points 120 may be made by anydesired process, such as selecting a subset or the whole set of accesspoints 120 that are sorted by any metric, including but not limited topath loss value. Based on the first path loss, a first EIRP is equal tothe first path loss plus a signal to noise ratio minus a noise floorvalue. The noise floor value may be any desired value, such as −95 dBm,for example. A second path loss is based on a number of second neighboraccess points 120, the second path loss being equal to a sum of the pathloss from each second neighbor access point 120 to the particular accesspoint 120 and divided by the number of second neighbor access points120. For example, a second neighbor access point 120 may be any accesspoint 120 in the RE neighborhood. However, determination of a set ofsecond access points 120 may be made by any desired process, such asselecting a subset or the whole set of access points 120 that are sortedby any metric, including but not limited to residing within an REneighborhood. A second EIRP is equal to the second path loss plus asignal to noise ratio minus a noise floor value.

The processor 226 also determines the lesser value between thecalculated first and second EIRPs and assigns that lesser EIRP value tothe particular access point 120, which is also stored in memory 236. Theprocessor 226 may repeat the above process for each of the remainingaccess points 120 in the RF neighborhood, such that every access point120 in the RF neighborhood has an assigned EIRP based on BSS colors. Theprocessor 226 may execute the above process as an initial access pointconfiguration and/or as a refining access point configuration based onchanging access point or wireless network conditions.

The client device 110 includes a processor 222, the communicationsmodule 212, and a memory 220 that includes client data and applications242. The access point 120 includes a processor 224, the communicationsmodule 214, and a memory 234 that includes a configuration database 244.For example, the configuration database 244 may include configurationattributes for the access point 120, such as BSS color assignment,channel assignment and EIRP assignment. An access point is a networkingdevice that allows a Wi-Fi device to connect to a network. An accesspoint may connect to a router as a standalone device, or an access pointmay be an integral component of a router.

The techniques described herein may be implemented as method(s) that areperformed by physical computing device(s); as one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media storing instructions which, whenexecuted by computing device(s), cause performance of the method(s); or,as physical computing device(s) that are specially configured with acombination of hardware and software that causes performance of themethod(s).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example process 300 for assigning EIRP to anaccess point in a wireless network using the example access point 120and network device 130 of FIG. 2 . While FIG. 3 is described withreference to FIG. 2 , it should be noted that the process steps of FIG.3 may be performed by other systems.

The process 300 begins at step 302 by determining a weight for eachneighboring access point within an RF neighborhood of a particularaccess point. The weight of an access point is determined based on theBSS color and channel frequency assigned to that access point. Forexample, if for a particular access point there are eight other accesspoints in the RF neighborhood, then a weight is determined for each ofthe eight neighboring access points.

The process 300 continues in step 304 by calculating a first path lossfrom the plurality of selected neighboring access points based on theweight of each selected neighboring access point of the plurality ofneighboring access points. Calculating a second path loss from theplurality of neighboring access points occurs in step 306. Continuing instep 308, a first EIRP is calculated based on the first path loss, andin step 310 a second EIRP is calculated based on the second path loss.The process 300 ends in step 312 by adjusting the EIRP associated withthe particular access point based on a lower value between the firstEIRP and the second EIRP.

FIG. 3 set forth an example process 300 for assigning EIRP to an accesspoint in a wireless network using the example access point 120 andnetwork device 130 of FIG. 2 . An example will now be described usingthe example process 300 of FIG. 3 as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C.

FIGS. 4A-4C show a network of nine access points labeled AP1 to AP9.Each of the access points has an assigned channel and an assigned BSScolor, which is denoted as channel/color. For example, in FIG. 4A, AP1has an assigned channel of 36 and an assigned color of 1 (e.g., 36/1).In this example, an EIRP is to be assigned to access point AP1, thoughthe same method may be used to assign EIRP to any of the other accesspoints AP2-AP9 as well.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the dotted curved lines show the range where theinfluence of access point AP1 is the most with respect to the assignedchannel and BSS color based spatial reuse. In other words, Wi-Fiinterference within this region can be mitigated using the right BSScolor at access point AP1. In addition, the other access points withinthis region can mitigate access point AP1's Wi-Fi interference by usingthe right BSS color as well. Here, the example process 300 beginsassuming that the right channel and the right BSS color have beenassigned to each access point AP1-AP9 via any known method.

To calculate the EIRP for access point AP1, a path loss is used as aproxy for distance given that path loss is a metric that is quiteconsistent in a given frequency band. Thus, the example process 300determines a representative path loss from access point AP1 thatrepresents an area of maximum influence by neighboring access pointswithin the region marked by the dotted curved lines in FIG. 4B. This isaccomplished by assigning different weights to neighboring access pointsAP2-AP9. The weight assigned to a neighboring access point is determinedby the probability of that neighboring access point having on the samechannel and BSS color as access point AP1.

The weights are labeled such that W1 indicates the associated accesspoint has the same channel and the same BSS color as access point AP1,W2 indicates the associated access point has the same channel and adifferent BSS color as access point AP1, W3 indicates the associatedaccess point has a different channel and the same BSS color as accesspoint AP1, and W4 indicates the associated access point has a differentchannel and a different BSS color as access point AP1.

The value of weight W1 is the largest weight since it is least desiredto have two access points with the same channel and BSS color toco-exist as much as possible, thus W1 is assigned as 1 (e.g., W1=1). Forweight W2, assuming the number of BSS colors available to a neighboraccess point is 11, then the associated access point has W2∝1/n. Thus,in a trivial case it can be seen that W2=β3/n, where β=sensitivity ofEIRP to BSS color changes, which may be user defined.

For weight W3, assuming the number of channels available to aneighboring access point is in, the associated access point has W3∝1/m.Again, in a trivial case it can be seen that W3=γ/n, where γ=sensitivityof EIRP to channel changes, which may be user defined. For an accesspoint operating on a DFS channel there is a much higher chance for theaccess point to encounter an event that might force it to change thechannel. Within all access points that fall under the weight W3, theprocess prioritizes access points that are operating on a DFS channel bybumping up the priority as W3′∝1/m′, where m′ is the number of channelsavailable to the access point that are not DFS, and therefore m′≤m. In atrivial case it can be seen that W3′=γ′/n, where γ′=sensitivity of EIRPto DFS channel changes, which may be user defined. Common knowledge andfield experience dictates that γ′>γ.

For weight W4, assuming the number of channels and the number of BSScolors available to a neighboring access point is in and n respectively,then W4∝1/(m×n). In a trivial case it can be seen that W4=(β×γ)/(m×n),where β and γ are defined as above. On simplifying, it can be seen thatW4=W2×W3. For an access point that is operating on a DFS channel, thereis a much higher chance for the access point to encounter an event thatmight force it to change the channel. Within all access points that fallunder the weight W4, the process prioritizes access points that areoperating on a DFS channel by bumping up the priority as W4′∝≤1/(m′×n),where m′ is the number of channels available to the access point thatare not DFS, and therefore m′≤m. On simplifying, it can be seen thatW4′=W2×W3′.

There is a special case where spatial reuse is disabled at the accesspoint. If spatial reuse is disabled, the process considers only onecolor as available for all access points (e.g., n=1). In this case,W1=1, W2=1, W3=γ/m, W3′∝1/m′, W4=1×W3, and W4′=1×W3′.

As shown in FIG. 4C, weights have been assigned to the eight neighboringaccess points AP2-AP9. Based on the weights assigned to neighboringaccess points within the influence range (e.g., weights for neighboringaccess points AP3 and AP5-AP9), the example process 300 now calculates acolored path loss (P_(c)) at which access point AP1 influences the most,as well as gets influenced the most with respect to channel and BSScolor. Here, P_(c) roughly represents the “center of gravity” or “centerof maximum influence.” Thus,

$P_{C} = \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\;\left( {W_{i}*P_{i}} \right)}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\; W_{i}}$where, n is the number of first n neighbor access points of access pointAP1, P_(c) is the colored path loss in dB, W_(i) is the weight assignedto access point AP1 from {W1, W2, W3, W3′, W4, W4′}, and P_(i) is thepath loss from access point AP_(i) to access point AP1 in dB. Forexample, the first n neighbor access points may be selected as all ofthe neighbor access points AP3 and AP5-AP9 that reside within theinfluence range shown in FIG. 4C.

The process also calculates a colorless path loss (P). This value isused to ensure that an STA associated to access point AP1 can roamproperly, and is calculated as follows:

$P = \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\; P_{i}}{n}$where, n is the number of second n neighbor access points of accesspoint AP1, and P_(i) is the path loss from access point AP_(i) to accesspoint AP1 in dB. For example, the second n neighbor access points may beselected as all of access point AP1's neighbor access points AP2-AP9shown in FIG. 4C.

Next, two values of EIRP are calculated. The first EIRP is calculatedfrom P_(c) and is referred to as colored EIRP (EIRP_(c)). The secondEIRP is calculated from P and is referred to as EIRP with path loss P(EIRP_(p)).

EIRP_(c) is calculated and assigned to access point AP1 to make sure toreach that loci of points given by P_(c) at S dBm signal to noise ratio(SNR), which is configurable, and considering a reasonable negative 95dBm noise floor as follows:EIRP_(c)(in dBm)=P _(c) +S−95.

Similarly, EIRP_(p) is calculated as follows:EIRP_(p)(in dBm)=P+S−95.

This example is based on the noise floor value of negative 95 dBm, butthe noise floor value may be different in other cases, where anyappropriate noise floor value may be chosen.

The example process 300 then compares EIRP_(c) and EIRP_(p) and choosesthe smaller one of the two in order to the effects to either performanceor roaming that would result from choosing the larger one.

Hardware Overview

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system 500with which the client device 110, access point 120 and network device130 of FIG. 2 can be implemented. In certain aspects, the computersystem 500 may be implemented using hardware or a combination ofsoftware and hardware, either in a dedicated server or integrated intoanother entity or distributed across multiple entities.

Computer system 500 (e.g., client device 110, access point 120 ornetwork device 130) includes a bus 508 or other communication mechanismfor communicating information, and a processor 502 (e.g., processor 222,224 and 226) coupled with bus 508 for processing information. Accordingto one aspect, the computer system 500 is implemented as one or morespecial-purpose computing devices. The special-purpose computing devicemay be hard-wired to perform the disclosed techniques, or may includedigital electronic devices such as one or more application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)that are persistently programmed to perform the techniques, or mayinclude one or more general purpose hardware processors programmed toperform the techniques pursuant to program instructions in firmware,memory, other storage, or a combination. Such special-purpose computingdevices may also combine custom hard-wired logic, ASICs, or FPGAs withcustom programming to accomplish the techniques. The special-purposecomputing devices may be desktop computer systems, portable computersystems, handheld devices, networking devices or any other device thatincorporates hard-wired and/or program logic to implement thetechniques. By way of example, the computer system 500 may beimplemented with one or more processors 502. Processor 502 may be ageneral-purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), an ASIC, a FPGA, a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), acontroller, a state machine, gated logic, discrete hardware components,or any other suitable entity that can perform calculations or othermanipulations of information.

Computer system 500 can include, in addition to hardware, code thatcreates an execution environment for the computer program in question,e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, adatabase management system, an operating system, or a combination of oneor more of them stored in an included memory 504 (e.g., memory 232, 234and 236), such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a ReadOnly Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an ErasablePROM (EPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD,or any other suitable storage device, coupled to bus 508 for storinginformation and instructions to be executed by processor 502. Theprocessor 502 and the memory 504 can be supplemented by, or incorporatedin, special purpose logic circuitry. Expansion memory may also beprovided and connected to computer system 500 through input/outputmodule 510, which may include, for example, a SIMM (Single in LineMemory Module) card interface. Such expansion memory may provide extrastorage space for computer system 500 or may also store applications orother information for computer system 500. Specifically, expansionmemory may include instructions to carry out or supplement the processesdescribed above and may include secure information also. Thus, forexample, expansion memory may be provided as a security module forcomputer system 500 and may be programmed with instructions that permitsecure use of computer system 500. In addition, secure applications maybe provided via the SWIM cards, along with additional information, suchas placing identifying information on the SIMM card in a non-packablemanner.

The instructions may be stored in the memory 504 and implemented in oneor more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computerprogram instructions encoded on a computer readable medium for executionby, or to control the operation of, the computer system 500, andaccording to any method well known to those of skill in the art,including, but not limited to, computer languages such as data-orientedlanguages (e.g., SQL, dBase), system languages (e.g., C, Objective-C,C++, Assembly), architectural languages (e.g., Java, .NET), andapplication languages (e.g., PHP, Ruby, Perl, Python). Instructions mayalso be implemented in computer languages such as array languages,aspect-oriented languages, assembly languages, authoring languages,command line interface languages, compiled languages, concurrentlanguages, curly-bracket languages, dataflow languages, data-structuredlanguages, declarative languages, esoteric languages, extensionlanguages, fourth-generation languages, functional languages,interactive mode languages, interpreted languages, iterative languages,list-based languages, little languages, logic-based languages, machinelanguages, macro languages, metaprogramming languages, multiparadigmlanguages, numerical analysis, non-English-based languages,object-oriented class-based languages, object-oriented prototype-basedlanguages, off-side rule languages, procedural languages, reflectivelanguages, rule-based languages, scripting languages, stack-basedlanguages, synchronous languages, syntax handling languages, visuallanguages, wirth languages, embeddable languages, and xml-basedlanguages. Memory 504 may also be used for storing temporary variable orother intermediate information during execution of instructions to beexecuted by processor 502.

A computer program as discussed herein does not necessarily correspondto a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of afile that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts storedin a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to theprogram in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files thatstore one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computerprogram can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers that are located at one site or distributed across multiplesites and interconnected by a communication network. The processes andlogic flows described in this specification can be performed by one ormore programmable processors executing one or more computer programs toperform functions by operating on input data and generating output.

Computer system 500 further includes a data storage device 506 such as amagnetic disk or optical disk, coupled to bus 508 for storinginformation and instructions. Computer system 500 may be coupled viainput/output module 510 to various devices. The input/output module 510can be any input/output module. Example input/output modules 510 includedata ports such as USB ports. In addition, input/output module 510 maybe provided in communication with processor 502, so as to enable neararea communication of computer system 500 with other devices. Theinput/output module 510 may provide, for example, for wiredcommunication in some implementations, or for wireless communication inother implementations, and multiple interfaces may also be used. Theinput/output module 510 is configured to connect to a communicationsmodule 512. Example communications modules 512 (e.g., communicationsmodules 212, 214 and 216) include networking interface cards, such asEthernet cards and modems.

The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or mediumof digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Thecommunication network (e.g., network 150) can include, for example, anyone or more of a PAN, a LAN, a CAN, a MAN, a WAN, a BBN, the Internet,and the like. Further, the communication network can include, but is notlimited to, for example, any one or more of the following networktopologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, amesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchical network, or thelike.

For example, in certain aspects, communications module 512 can provide atwo-way data communication coupling to a network link that is connectedto a local network. Wireless links and wireless communication may alsobe implemented. Wireless communication may be provided under variousmodes or protocols, such as GSM (Global System for MobileCommunications), Short Message Service (SMS), Enhanced Messaging Service(EMS), or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messaging, CDMA (CodeDivision Multiple Access), Time division multiple access (TDMA),Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Wideband CDMA, General Packet RadioService (GPRS), or LTE (Long-Term Evolution), among others. Suchcommunication may occur, for example, through a radio-frequencytransceiver. In addition, short-range communication may occur, such asusing a BLUETOOTH, WI-FI, or other such transceiver.

In any such implementation, communications module 512 sends and receiveselectrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital datastreams representing various types of information. The network linktypically provides data communication through one or more networks toother data devices. For example, the network link of the communicationsmodule 512 may provide a connection through local network to a hostcomputer or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider(ISP). The ISP in turn provides data communication services through theworld wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to asthe Internet. The local network and Internet both use electrical,electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. Thesignals through the various networks and the signals on the network linkand through communications module 512, which carry the digital data toand from computer system 500, are example forms of transmission media.

Computer system 500 can send messages and receive data, includingprogram code, through the network(s), the network link andcommunications module 512. In the process example, a network device 130might transmit code to adjust an assigned EIRP through Internet, theISP, the local network and communications module 512. The received codemay be executed by processor 502 as it is received, and/or stored indata storage 506 for later execution.

In certain aspects, the input/output module 510 is configured to connectto a plurality of devices, such as an input device 514 and/or an outputdevice 516. Example input devices 514 include a stylus, a finger, akeyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which auser can provide input to the computer system 500. Other kinds of inputdevices 514 can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well,such as a tactile input device, visual input device, audio input device,or brain-computer interface device. For example, feedback provided tothe user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback,auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can bereceived in any form, including acoustic, speech, tactile, or brain waveinput. Example output devices 516 include display devices, such as a LED(light emitting diode), CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystaldisplay) screen, a TFT LCD (Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display)or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, for displayinginformation to the user. The output device 516 may comprise appropriatecircuitry for driving the output device 516 to present graphical andother information to a user.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the client device110, access point 120 and network device 130 can be implemented using acomputer system 500 in response to processor 502 executing one or moresequences of one or more instructions contained in memory 504. Suchinstructions may be read into memory 504 from another machine-readablemedium, such as data storage device 506. Execution of the sequences ofinstructions contained in main memory 504 causes processor 502 toperform the process steps described herein. One or more processors in amulti-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute thesequences of instructions contained in memory 504. In alternativeaspects, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combinationwith software instructions to implement various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Thus, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited toany specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

Various aspects of the subject matter described in this specificationcan be implemented in a computing system that includes a back endcomponent, e.g., a data server, or that includes a middleware component,e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component,e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Webbrowser through which a user can interact with an implementation of thesubject matter described in this specification, or any combination ofone or more such back end, middleware, or front end components.

Computing system 500 can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.Computer system 500 can be, for example, and without limitation, adesktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet computer. Computer system500 can also be embedded in another device, for example, and withoutlimitation, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), amobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a videogame console, and/or a television set top box.

The term “machine-readable storage medium” or “computer-readable medium”as used herein refers to any medium or media that participates inproviding instructions or data to processor 502 for execution. The term“storage medium” as used herein refers to any non-transitory media thatstore data and/or instructions that cause a machine to operate in aspecific fashion. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but notlimited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media include, for example, optical disks, magnetic disks,or flash memory, such as data storage device 506. Volatile media includedynamic memory, such as memory 504. Transmission media include coaxialcables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including the wires that comprisebus 508. Common forms of machine-readable media include, for example,floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any othermagnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards,paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, aPROM, an EPROM, a FLASH EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, orany other medium from which a computer can read. The machine-readablestorage medium can be a machine-readable storage device, amachine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition ofmatter affecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combinationof one or more of them.

As used in this specification of this application, the terms“computer-readable storage medium” and “computer-readable media” areentirely restricted to tangible, physical objects that store informationin a form that is readable by a computer. These terms exclude anywireless signals, wired download signals, and any other ephemeralsignals. Storage media is distinct from but may be used in conjunctionwith transmission media. Transmission media participates in transferringinformation between storage media. For example, transmission mediaincludes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including thewires that comprise bus 508. Transmission media can also take the formof acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-waveand infra-red data communications. Furthermore, as used in thisspecification of this application, the terms “computer”, “server”,“processor”, and “memory” all refer to electronic or other technologicaldevices. These terms exclude people or groups of people. For thepurposes of the specification, the terms display or displaying meansdisplaying on an electronic device.

In one aspect, a method may be an operation, an instruction, or afunction and vice versa. In one aspect, a clause or a claim may beamended to include some or all of the words (e.g., instructions,operations, functions, or components' recited in either one or moreclauses, one or more words, one or more sentences, one or more phrases,one or more paragraphs, and/or one or more claims.

To illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, itemssuch as the various illustrative blocks, modules, components, methods,operations, instructions, and algorithms have been described generallyin terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality isimplemented as hardware, software or a combination of hardware andsoftware depends upon the particular application and design constraintsimposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement thedescribed functionality in varying ways for each particular application.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series ofitems, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items,modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e.,each item). The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection ofat least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes atleast one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of anycombination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. Byway of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at leastone of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; anycombination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.

To the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used inthe description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive ina manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpretedwhen employed as a transitional word in a claim. Phrases such as anaspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects,an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, someimplementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, theembodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or moreembodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration,some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology,the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof andalike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating tosuch phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that suchdisclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. Adisclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations,or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s)may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or someaspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and thisapplies similarly to other foregoing phrases.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “oneand only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” Theterm “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headingsand subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subjecttechnology, and are not referred to in connection with theinterpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relationalterms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguishone entity or action from another without necessarily requiring orimplying any actual such relationship or order between such entities oractions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements ofthe various configurations described throughout this disclosure that areknown or later conic to be known to those of ordinary skill in the artare expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to beencompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosedherein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whethersuch disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description. No claimelement is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112,sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using thephrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element isrecited using the phrase “step for.”

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but ratheras descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter.Certain features that are described in this specification in the contextof separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in asingle embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described inthe context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multipleembodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover,although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

The subject matter of this specification has been described in terms ofparticular aspects, but other aspects can be implemented and are withinthe scope of the following claims. For example, while operations aredepicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not beunderstood as requiring that such operations be performed in theparticular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustratedoperations be performed, to achieve desirable results. The actionsrecited in the claims can be performed in a different order and stillachieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in theaccompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular ordershown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certaincircumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.Moreover, the separation of various system components in the aspectsdescribed above should not be understood as requiring such separation inall aspects, and it should be understood that the described programcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singlesoftware product or packaged into multiple software products.

The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, anddrawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided asillustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictivedescriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will notbe used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in thedetailed description, it can be seen that the description providesillustrative examples and the various features are grouped together invarious implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed subject matter requires more features thanare expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect,inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a singledisclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparately claimed subject matter.

The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects describedherein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with thelanguage claims and to encompass all legal equivalents. Notwithstanding,none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails tosatisfy the requirements of the applicable patent law, nor should theybe interpreted in such a way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining, by a networkdevice, a weight for each neighboring access point of a plurality ofneighboring access points in a radio frequency neighborhood of aparticular access point based on at least a channel frequency and abasic service set color of the plurality of neighboring access points inthe radio frequency neighborhood of the particular access point;calculating, by the network device, a first path loss from the pluralityof neighboring access points based on the weights of one or moreneighboring access points of the plurality of neighboring access points;calculating, by the network device, a first effective isotopic radiatedpower based on the first path loss; adjusting, by the network device,the effective isotopic radiated power associated with the particularaccess point based on the first effective isotopic radiated power. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the weight is one of a first weight, asecond weight, a third weight, a third priority weight, a fourth weightand a fourth priority weight.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thefirst weight is based upon a neighboring access point having the sameassigned channel and same assigned basic service set color as theparticular access point.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the secondweight is based upon a neighboring access point having the same assignedchannel and a different assigned basic service set color as theparticular access point.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the secondweight is proportional to sensitivity of the effective isotopic radiatedpower to basic service set color changes in relation to a number ofbasic service set colors available to the neighboring access point. 6.The method of claim 2, wherein the third weight is based upon aneighboring access point having a different assigned channel and thesame assigned basic service set color as the particular access point. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the third weight is proportional tosensitivity of the effective isotopic radiated power to channel changesin relation to a number of channels available to the neighboring accesspoint.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the third priority weight isproportional to sensitivity of the effective isotopic radiated power toDFS channel changes in relation to a number of non-DFS channelsavailable to the neighboring access point.
 9. The method of claim 2,wherein the fourth weight is based upon a neighboring access pointhaving a different assigned channel and a different assigned basicservice set color as the particular access point.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the fourth weight is equal to the second weight timesthe third weight, the second weight being proportional to sensitivity ofthe effective isotopic radiated power to basic service set color changesin relation to a number of basic service set colors available to theneighboring access point, and the third weight being proportional tosensitivity of the effective isotopic radiated power to channel changesin relation to a number of channels available to the neighboring accesspoint.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the fourth priority weight isequal to the second weight times the third priority weight, the secondweight being proportional to sensitivity of the effective isotopicradiated power to basic service set color changes in relation to anumber of basic service set colors available to the neighboring accesspoint, and the third priority weight being proportional to sensitivityof the effective isotopic radiated power to DFS channel changes inrelation to a number of non-DFS channels available to the neighboringaccess point.
 12. The method of claim 2, wherein the first path loss isbased on a number of first neighbor access points, the first path lossbeing equal to a sum of the weight assigned to each of the firstneighbor access points times the path loss from the corresponding firstneighbor access point to the particular access point and divided by thesum of the weight assigned to each of the first neighbor access points.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first effective isotopicradiated power is equal to the first path loss plus a signal to noiseratio minus a noise floor value.
 14. A system comprising: a memory; anda processor configured to execute instructions which, when executed,cause the processor to: determine one of a first weight, a secondweight, a third weight, a third priority weight, a fourth weight and afourth priority weight for each neighboring access point of a pluralityof neighboring access points in a radio frequency neighborhood of aparticular access point based on at least a channel frequency and abasic service set color of each neighboring access point; calculate afirst path loss from the plurality of neighboring access points based onthe weight of one or more neighboring access points; calculate a firsteffective isotopic radiated power based on the first path loss; adjustan effective isotopic radiated power associated with the particularaccess point based on the first effective isotopic radiated power. 15.The system of claim 14, wherein the first path loss is based on a numberof first neighbor access points, the first path loss being equal to asum of the weight assigned to each of the first neighbor access pointstimes the path loss from the corresponding first neighbor access pointto the particular access point and divided by the sum of the weightassigned to each of the first neighbor access points.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the first effective isotopic radiated power is equalto the first path loss plus a signal to noise ratio minus a noise floorvalue.
 17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprisingmachine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute amethod, the method comprising: determining, by a network device, aweight for each neighboring access point of a plurality of neighboringaccess points in a radio frequency neighborhood of a particular accesspoint based on at least a channel frequency and a basic service setcolor of the plurality of neighboring access points in the radiofrequency neighborhood of the particular access point; calculating, bythe network device, a first path loss from the plurality of neighboringaccess points based on the weight of one or more neighboring accesspoint of the plurality of neighboring access points; calculating, by thenetwork device, a first effective isotopic radiated power based on thefirst path loss; adjusting, by the network device, an effective isotopicradiated power associated with the particular access point based on thefirst effective isotopic radiated power.
 18. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first path lossis based on a number of first neighbor access points, the first pathloss being equal to a sum of the weight assigned to each of the firstneighbor access points times the path loss from the corresponding firstneighbor access point to the particular access point and divided by thesum of the weight assigned to each of the first neighbor access points.